Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The Washington File reports that the chief U.S. negotiator in the free trade agreement (FTA) talks with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman says the first round of bargaining with each country has gone smoothly and she expects that agreements with both countries will be concluded and signed by the end of 2005. (Washington File Pub 03/14/05, available at http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2005&m=March&x=20050314185740cpataruk0.1947443&t=livefeeds/wf-latest.html)
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1. U.S. Negotiator Says FTA Talks With UAE and Oman Off to Rapid Start
2. U.S. Wants Fully Liberalized Bilateral Air Transport Agreement With China
The Washington File reports that the Bush Administration is hoping that the U.S. and China can agree to move toward a fully liberalized bilateral air transport agreement (also referred to as an "open skies agreement") when officials from the two countries meet in 2006 to discuss a possible expansion of the existing aviation agreement. (Washington File 03/14/05, available at http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2005&m=March&x=20050314104758SAikceinawz0.8837549&t=livefeeds/wf-latest.html)
3. APHIS Amends Final Rule on BSE Minimal Risk Regions for Canadian Cattle, Etc.
The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a final rule, effective March 7, 2005, which amends its January 4, 2005 final rule on bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) minimal risk regions and the importation of live ruminants (e.g. cattle) and commodities (e.g. beef products) from Canada. The amendment delays until further notice the effective date of provisions to allow imports of certain beef products from animals 30 months or older from Canada. (See ITT's Online Archives or 02/11/05 and 03/04/05 news, 05021107 and 05030410, for BP summaries of the USDA's statement announcing this delayed effective date and a temporary injunction that prevents APHIS from implementing its January 4, 2005 final rule.) (D/N 03-080-6, FR Pub 03/11/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-4917.pdf)
4. FAS Announces Reestablishment of Seven Agricultural Trade Committees
The Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS) has issued a notice announcing that, in coordination with the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), the Secretary of Agriculture intends to reestablish the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee (APAC) for Trade and the six existing Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees (ATACs) for Trade (see notice for list of ATACs). FAS is requesting nominations for persons to serve on these seven committees before the close of business on March 31, 2005. (FR Pub 03/02/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-4051.pdf)
5. CBP Asks CITA for Directive to Revise 19 CFR 12.130 on Textile Declaration
According to a U.S. Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel (USA-ITA) Textile Development Memo, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has sent a letter to the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) asking for a directive that would revise the textile declaration requirement under 19 CFR 12.130 (Textiles and textile products country of origin) in order to make it apply only to Israel, which is the only country still subject to "substantial transformation" rules of origin for textiles and apparel. (TDM, dated 03/04/05, www.usaita.com)
6. GAO Report on Protecting Agriculture from a Terrorist Attack
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released the following report entitled, "Homeland Security: Much Is Being Done to Protect Agriculture from a Terrorist Attack, but Important Challenges Remain." (GAO-05-214, dated March 2005, available at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d05214.pdf)
7. Various Agencies Seek Comments on Information Collections
The following agencies are seeking comments on the following information collections for which they have requested or intend to request Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval (see notices for specific details):
| Agency | Information Collection | Comments Due |
| CBP | North American Free Trade Agreement Duty Deferral1 | 04/01/05 |
| CBP | Arrival and Departure Record: (Forms I-94, I-94W and I-94T) | 05/02/05 |
| CBP | Bonded Warehouse Regulations | 05/02/05 |
| ITC | Generic Clearance Information Collection Activities2 | 04/01/05 |
| ITA | Certified Trade Mission Program Application (Form ITA-4127P) | 04/25/05 |
1Deadline for comments extended 30 days to 04/01/05.
2Proposed 3-year extension.
(CBP notices, FR Pub 03/02/05, available under 'Customs and Border Protection Bureau' at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/a050302c.html)
ITA notice (FR Pub 02/24/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/E5-753.pdf
ITC notice (FR Pub 02/02/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-1952.pdf)